Case Study

Vametco Mine

A 4.725 MWp solar plant with a 1 MW / 4 MWh vanadium redox flow battery – a commercial-scale hybrid pilot supplying about 10% of the mine’s electricity under a long-term PPA.

Location
Vametco Mine, Brits, North West

System size
4.725 MWp + 4 MWh vanadium flow battery

technology
Ground-mount solar PV + vanadium flow battery

Industry
Other

The challenge

Every successful project begins with a clear understanding of the client’s operational environment, energy requirements, and long-term business objectives.

Bushveld Minerals needed to reduce the mine’s electricity costs and establish a commercial-scale pilot for long-duration vanadium flow battery storage, including time-of-use shifting and better energy utilisation.

The site combined unusual challenges: highly reactive heaving clay that demanded careful civil and foundation design; construction inside an operating mine under strict health and safety rules; coordination with CellCube specialist teams; and RETEC / grid-code compliance for a then-novel behind-the-meter PV and flow-battery plant.

Our solution

Working closely with the client, our team designed a solution that balanced engineering excellence, financial viability, and long-term operational performance.

Nesa Power delivered 4.725 MWp of solar PV and a 1 MW / 4 MWh vanadium redox flow battery, covering about 10% of Vametco’s electricity requirement and avoiding more than 5,700 tonnes of CO₂ a year, funded off-balance-sheet through a long-term PPA.

PV, battery and the existing mine network were treated as one integrated power system. Control philosophy coordinates solar production, battery charge and discharge, peak demand, time-of-use tariffs and the electrical limits of the mine network. Agreeing grid-code, control and testing requirements early avoided major redesign or commissioning delays.